Iowa lawmakers introduced a bill to cut connections between schools and public libraries in Iowa.
The bill (HSB 636) prevents students from using their school ID to access books and other materials from the public library. Iowa lawmakers introduced the bill to ban students from gaining access to books with sexually explicit content.
“I see it as hypocritical because they say they want to give parents more choice, yet they want other people to limit those choices, so the parents don’t have to,” Cedar Rapids high school district librarian Frank Sherrman said. “But parents have always had the choice to decide what books their children access.”
As written, the bill prohibits Iowa schools from having any agreement with public libraries that would allow students to use a school ID to access books, electronic resources or any other materials.
“I do think it could potentially hurt people. What we’re doing is putting an extra hurdle in helping students gain access to resources,” Sherrman said. “I think any bill that puts hurdles up for people to not gain access to libraries is absurd.”
In a subcommittee hearing, Katherine Bogaards with a group called “Protect My Innocence” claimed the bill is necessary to stop Iowa schools from going around a state law passed in 2023. This law bans school libraries from having books with inappropriate content.
“I’m upset hearing about this bill since I’ve been wanting to go to the public library more. I think having a student ID to check out books at the public library is beneficial, you just have more options,” Freshman at Kennedy Joy Sheyko said, “I don’t go to the library that often anymore, but it’s been something I’ve planned to do more.”